The story is told that when Publius Silo, a man of the greatest repute and authority among the enemies, said to him, “if you are indeed a great general, Marius, leave your camp and fight a battle,” he [Marius] replied, “If you are one, make me do so.”
And another time, when the enemy gave them a good opportunity of a battle, and the Romans through fear durst not charge, so that both parties retreated, he called an assembly of his soldiers, and said, “It is no small question whether I should call the enemies or you the greater cowards, for neither did they dare to face your backs, nor you to confront theirs.”
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Caius Marius." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 572. Print.
Further Reading:
No comments, yet...